Improvement in railroad switches



T. J. REYNOLDS. Improvement in Railroad-Switches. 132,023.

Patented Oct. 8,1872.

maveN-Vora':l

Q Hm IDD u m {i} T n E I .C l .w N

n .Uf um W w m/M mi@ Per.

UNIT

yTHOMAS J. REYNOLDS, or NASHVILLE, 1LLiNois,AsSIGNoE 0E rwolrnrnns OF HIS RIGHT TO AMOS WATTS AND LESTER O. BARTON, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN RAILROAD SWITCHES.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. REYNULDS, of Nashville, in the county of Washington and State of Illinois, have invented certain Improvements in Railroad Switches, of which thev following is a specification:

My invention relates to an improvement in railroad switches, and consists in the form and construction of a fixed point77 fastened to the rail of the main track, and a Single and .pointed switch-rail that acts in conjunction therewith.

Figure 1 is a plan of a railroad switch embodying my invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the knee; Fig. 3, a plan of thebottom of the same; Fig. 4, a section taken through the dotted line x w, Fig. 1; and Fig.

5, a section taken through the dotted lines z,

z, Fig. l.

A A are the rails of the main track; B B, the. rails 'of the turnout or siding. U is a pointed switch-rail, joined with fish-plates to the rail A. This rail is pointed for about onehalf its length, and the rail B cut out suftlciently to receive it, as shown in Fig. 1. The switch-rail is operated by the rod D attached to a lever, and a switch-Stand of any shape or form. E E E E are knees placed upon and spiked to the ties F F F F. These knees are formed as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 5, and tit against the shank c of the rail.- The bottom of the knee is beveled out, as shown at e e. The straight part e', one and a half inch wide, iits against the flange c of the rail. The beveled part is so that if snow, ice, or gravel gets between the flange c and the part e it will be forced out through the beveled part much easier than if the part e runs clear across thel .the train passes on the main track the switchrail C is placed as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. To pass `the train on the turn-out the switch-rail C is forced out from the rail B by- Speciication forming part of Letters Patent No. 13?*323, dated October 8, 1872.

the usual method of a lever and a connectingrod, D. The iianges ot the car-wheels pass between the point c and the rail B. After the wheel passes in some two or three feet the inside .of the ange of the wheel presses against the outside of the rail C and the cars are gradually drawn on the siding or turn-out, so that the outside of the flange of the wheel opposite the one described above will pass the point g.

By this arrangement of the rail C and the fixed point77 G (on the scale shown in the drawing) cars of the regular and also the compromise gage will pass on the track without any jar, or wearing track as quick as in the ordinary switch. As the flange of the wheel does not strike the outside of the rail C (at c) until some two or three feet is passed over, the point c is durable. And also the point g and the knee E being opposite each other and spiked on the same tie the track cannot spread. By this arrangement, also, even if the train should be passing on the main track and the switch should be open for. the sidin g, (as shown in Fig. 1,) the play that is allowed on the tread of the Wheels (some four or tive inches) will allow of the train passing without jumping the track,77 as the opening is only three inches between the point c and the rail B. No bridles or chairs are used with this' switch, and the construction of the iixed point G allows of the switch being placed at any point ofthe main track without cutting the rails, or of nccessity at or near a joint.

I claim as my inventionl. The iXed point G, constructed as described, and secured to the main rail A with the bolts a a a, as shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the switch-rail C, knees E E E, and fixed point G, as shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

THOMAS J. REYNOLDS.

Vitnesses CHARLES 1?.- HoUSUM, J Aeon I. BEAR. 

